The Golden Garuda

“Khenpo Sodargye compressively illuminates the inspiring life of Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok. He vividly captures his extensive Dharma activities, beginning with his auspicious birth and continuing up until his passing into parinirvana. Reading The Golden Garuda brings the awakened presence of this preeminent teacher. For any student wishing to connect with Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok, this book is a treasure endowed with blessings.” —Khenpo Sherab Sangpo, author of The Heart of Tibetan Buddhism   “The English translation of Khenpo Sodargye’s The Golden Garuda is a cause for celebration. My connection with Khenpo Sodargye goes back many years to our extraordinary experience studying at the feet of our glorious master, Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, at his retreat center, Larung Gar. Khenpo Sodargye is one of Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche’s most accomplished students. He accompanied Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche closely for many years. He completely absorbed Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche’s entire life story. He was blessed with the very best understanding and actual experience of Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche’s profound teachings of Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Dzogchen. Khenpo Sodargye has hundreds of thousands of students in China, where his teachings and books have brought great benefit. I am confident that Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche’s profound, priceless, and powerful teachings, and the chronicle of his amazing life, are in the most capable hands. My heartfelt appreciation for the publication of this important biography. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche’s extraordinary qualities can now be understood and appreciated by readers everywhere.” —Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche, author of Our Pristine Mind and From Foundation to Summit   “It is a great honor to endorse this wonderful and timely publication that gives the world of English readers a clear glimpse into the traditional life, training, mode of accomplishment, and manner of benefiting the Buddhist doctrine and living beings as carried forth for centuries in the sacred land of Tibet. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche managed to live through the Cultural Revolution and go on to replicate this process of benefiting the world in the most magnificent way. We in the West were graced with his sole visit during the summer of 1993, accompanied by his esteemed sister, niece, and his devoted disciple Khenpo Sodargye. The memory of his shockingly confident, authentic presence is unforgettable, along with his tireless enthusiasm to benefit others accompanied with profound lineage transmissions mostly given by heart. In these times, when meeting such an authentic master is as rare as a daytime star, this book—like the sighting of a Golden Garuda—gives us a renewed sense of hope and faith in the timeless wisdom of the Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Ati Yoga traditions.” —Sangye Khandro, cofounder of Light of Berotsana Translation Group